A 23-year-old Grand Haven man has been charged with first-degree child abuse after medical authorities reported treating a 4-month old boy for a fractured skull last week.

Steve Rouiller Jr., 608 S. Ferry, was arraigned Monday in Ottawa County's 58th District Court on a felony child abuse charge that carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Bond for Rouiller was set at $50,000 cash or surety by District Judge Richard Kloote. Rouiller was to have a pre-preliminary examination this morning.

According to the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety, Rouiller has been charged with severely abusing his son, Landon J. Rouiller, over several days. Authorities were notified last week of a suspected child abuse case when North Ottawa Community Hospital personnel treated the infant for a fractured skull.

The boy is a patient at DeVos Children's Hospital, which is not releasing information on his condition.

Appearing at a video arraignment Monday afternoon, Rouiller told the court he had been laid off from a restaurant job and would have to have a court-appointed attorney. He said he lived in the same home as his wife and son. Kloote noted Rouiller had been in district court before.

According to court records, Rouiller pleaded guilty in 2004 for filing a false police report, pleaded guilty in 2005 for aggravated domestic violence; pleaded guilty in 2006 to retail fraud and possessing alcohol as a minor.

Public Safety officials said they were contacted by NOCH and Child and Protective Services officials after the infant was brought to the hospital last week. Their investigation revealed the infant had been allegedly abused several times in his Grand Haven home, police said.